40 Days of Lent Journal: Day 7
Day 7
Mark 12:33 “and to love his neighbor as himself,”
A man who really had no interest in Christianity became a casual friend with a Christian guy who lived next door. They talked over the back fence, borrowed lawn mowers, stuff like that. Then, the non-Christian man’s wife found out she had cancer, and died three months later. He wrote “I was in total despair. I went through the funeral preparations and the service like I was in a trance.
“After the service, I went to the path along the river and walked all night. But I didn’t walk alone. My neighbor—afraid for me, I guess—stayed with me all night. He didn’t speak; he didn’t even walk beside me. He just followed me. When the sun finally came up over the river, he came over and said, ‘Let’s go get some breakfast.’ I go to church now. My neighbor’s church. A religion that can produce the kind of caring and love my neighbor showed me is something I want to find out more about. I want to love and be loved like that for the rest of my life.”
How do you love? Do you love treat others the way you would want someone to love and care for you? Practice the “love your neighbor as yourself” kind of love today.
Father, in Jesus name, thank you for my neighbors and my community. Thank you for peace and love for those who live next door to me. I ask that your peace will bless them and keep them from harm. If my neighbor needs me, help to respond as if I were responding to myself. Amen!
Publisher's Note: The above are excerpts from the "No Greater Love: A Journey Through Lent" Journal as compiled by Dr. Michelle Gooding of Herring Grove FWB Church, Dr. Andre Cannon of Evangel Christian Community Church, and Eldress Wandra Williams of Hull Road FWB Church.
